Ukraine, Russia peace talks yield no results, Zelenskyy calls Trump, allies for support

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s efforts to secure a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict with Russia hit a roadblock on Friday as peace talks in Turkey failed to yield any results. In response, Zelenskyy reached out to President Donald Trump and key Western allies from France, Germany, the U.K., and Poland to discuss the next steps in bringing an end to the war.

In a post on social media, Zelenskyy shared that he had spoken with President Trump, along with President Macron, Chancellor Merz, Prime Ministers Starmer, and Tusk to discuss the outcome of the failed meeting in Istanbul. The Ukrainian President expressed his readiness to take swift actions towards achieving peace and emphasized the importance of maintaining pressure on Russia until a ceasefire is agreed upon.

French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin had once again rejected the proposal for a ceasefire, demonstrating a lack of commitment to peaceful resolution. Macron called for a united response from the U.S. and European allies in dealing with Russia’s refusal to engage in dialogue with Ukraine.

President Trump, who did not participate in the peace talks, reiterated his belief that a meeting with Putin was necessary to make progress in ending the conflict. He expressed confidence that a meeting between the two leaders would lead to a resolution, but also acknowledged the possibility of no agreement being reached.

While Trump did not provide a timeline for a potential meeting with Putin, he emphasized the need for direct engagement between the two leaders. Zelenskyy had initially proposed a meeting between the leaders of the warring nations at the negotiations, but Putin’s absence and the lack of senior Russian officials at the talks raised doubts about Russia’s commitment to a ceasefire.

Despite the setbacks in the peace talks, Zelenskyy remains determined to pursue all avenues for peace in Ukraine. The failed negotiations highlight the challenges in reaching a resolution to the conflict, but efforts from world leaders and continued pressure on Russia signal a commitment to finding a peaceful solution. As the situation continues to evolve, it remains to be seen what steps will be taken to address the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.